SEONGNAM (Interstat) — Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC scored twice and kept Seongnam off the scoreboard in a 2-0 victory on Sunday, extending its perfect start in the competition and across all competitions. The visitors took the lead in the first half, protected it through the interval and added to their advantage after the break while denying the hosts a response.

Kang Hyun-Muk provided the breakthrough for Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC in the 26th minute. Kang played 72 minutes and finished with one goal. Keelan Lebon was also influential for the visitors, playing 70 minutes and recording an assist. Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC carried a 1-0 lead into halftime and continued to hold the advantage after the break. Seongnam sought a way back into the match but did not find a goal.

Seongnam’s efforts to respond were met by a Suwon side that stayed compact and limited space in the final third. The home side pushed more players forward after halftime, but Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC held its organization and kept the hosts from finding a finishing touch.

Seongnam tried to change the match with three substitutions at halftime, involving Kim Ji-hyuk, Jung Seung-Yong and Lee Jun-Sang. Ryu Jun-sun was involved in another Seongnam substitution in the 68th minute, and Jeon M. was involved in a Seongnam change in the 77th. Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC made a 70th-minute substitution involving Park Hyun-Bin and Lebon K. Kang Hyun-Muk was substituted in the 72nd minute after his goal, Kang Seong-Jin was involved in a Suwon substitution in the 76th and Lee Geon-hee was involved in a Suwon substitution in the 89th.

Discipline shaped parts of the match. Seongnam’s Jeon M. received a yellow card in the 48th minute. Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC’s Mina L. and another Suwon player were shown yellow cards in the 56th minute. Seongnam received another yellow card in the 81st minute. The bookings interrupted the flow of a second half in which Seongnam sought to push forward and Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC worked to preserve its advantage.

The result moved Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC to 3-0 in this competition and 3-0 across all competitions. Seongnam dropped to 0-3 in this competition and 0-3 across all competitions. Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC had entered after a 3-2 win over Hwaseong and a 4-1 win over Ansan Greeners, while Seongnam had lost 2-1 to Suwon FC and 3-1 at Cheongju. The visitors protected their advantage through the second half and finished with the clean sheet, closing out a third win in the competition.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC finished with a two-goal margin, while Seongnam remained without a win in the competition. The home side made its changes in an effort to find a spark, but Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC maintained its shape and kept the hosts from scoring. Kang’s first-half finish remained the defining moment, and Lebon’s assist added to the visitors’ attacking output.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Seongnam 1, Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC 1, and its ELO system had given Seongnam a 52.2 percent probability to win. Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.75. The total score of 2 went over the over-under line of 2.5.